A very rare George III "Blond" Tortoiseshell Toothpick Box made, almost certainly, in London circa 1800.

This rare box has a broad rectangular form with cut corners. The cover is beautifully decorated with alternate diagonal strips of dark and blond tortoiseshell, in addition to an outer border and diagonal bands of gold stringing. Each corner also displays a star motif and a central bright cut cartouche engraved with the script initial "M". The box has a gold hinge and thumb piece and is in excellent condition. The lighter tortoiseshell, referred to as blond, is exceptionally rare, however to find it in combination with dark tortoiseshell is extremely unusual.